Native Plants
Q. Who is Mr. Smarty Plants?
A: There are those who suspect Wildflower Center volunteers are the culpable and capable culprits. Yet, others think staff members play some, albeit small, role. You can torture us with your plant questions, but we will never reveal the Green Guru's secret identity.
Did you know you can access the Native Plant Information Network with your web-enabled smartphone?
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants
Ask Mr. Smarty Plants is a free service provided by the staff and volunteers at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center.
rate this answer
Friday - May 31, 2013
From: Valatie, NY
Region: Select Region
Topic: Pests
Title: Round green seed pods are likely leaf galls
Answered by: Nan Hampton
QUESTION:
While walking on a tree-lined dirt road after a mid-May storm, I noticed several seed pods but could not locate the plant they fell off of. The pods were round, light green and looked like large round grapes. They were light weight and hollow feeling, but inside was a seed starting to grow that was attached to the interior of the pod shell by spidery filaments. I looked through a tree and shrub identification book but could not find them.ANSWER:
Your description sounds like leaf galls caused by the trees reaction to eggs deposited by an insect. Here is a general description of plant galls from Henderson State University in Arkansas. In fact, it sounds like a lot like oak-apple gall or maple bladder gall. Here are more photos and information about oak-apple galls from the Urban Pantheist and more from Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. The galls, by the way, are generally not detrimental to the tree that produces them.
More Pests Questions
Problems with Live Oak in Boerne TX
April 24, 2011 - I had my large Live Oak trimmed last year. This spring there seems to be a problem with leaf growth. Most leaves are small in nature and appear to have been attacked possibly by bugs. Many of the bran...
view the full question and answer
Lily plants being chewed from Austin
June 20, 2013 - Something is chewing my lily plants to the ground. Any ideas what and do I stop them?
view the full question and answer
Protection of Mountain Laurel from Pyralid or Genista moth caterpillars
May 28, 2006 - I have a Texas Mountain Laurel. Every year it is attacked by caterpillars. They form a bag for lack of a better word on the ends of the branches destroying the blooms for the following year. PLEASE...
view the full question and answer
Mosquito repelling plants from Euless TX
July 24, 2013 - Are there any shade loving plants that repel mosquitoes for North Central Texas?
I checked your site and saw nothing on this topic.
view the full question and answer
Failure to thrive of Lantanas
August 06, 2008 - Here at work we have 4 beautiful yellow Santanas(should I say had), the leaves have started to turn brown and no longer blooming. Appears to have a fungus or disease.
Please help!
view the full question and answer
| Support the Wildflower Center by Donating Online or Becoming a Member today. |